Choose the serving style first
Plated meals need a kitchen and a lot of staff. Buffets need space and can create queues. Live cooking stations, such as paella, combine theatre with fast service from the pan.
Avoid one long queue
For big numbers, plan more than one serving point, or call tables up in turn. Have drinks and nibbles available while people wait.
Get the diets right
With 100 guests, you will almost certainly have vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free and allergy needs. Collect them in advance and give your caterer exact numbers.
Staff
Ask your caterer how many staff they’ll bring for your numbers and service style, and whether you need extra hands for clearing plates.
Timings
Share a running order with your caterer and venue, with one person on the day who can make decisions.
Paella at this scale
For 100 guests, a live paella set-up usually means several large pans, sized and split by diet. Because service is from the pan, it’s quick once the paella is ready.
Plates and seating
Make sure you have enough seats, tables and plates. Standing and eating rice is possible, but most guests prefer to sit.
Clearing as you go
With big numbers, used plates and glasses pile up quickly. Ask whether your caterer or venue provides staff to clear, or plan for it yourself.
Timeline for a big meal
For a large group, agree a clear timeline: when the caterer arrives, when the first canapés or nibbles go out, when the main course is served and when dessert follows. Share it with your venue, your caterer and whoever is running the day. Allow a little slack, because big events rarely run exactly to time.
If you have speeches, decide whether they come before or after the meal, and tell your caterer so the paella is ready at the right moment.
Why live paella suits large numbers
Large pans, separate pans for each diet and fast service from the pan make live paella one of the most practical ways to feed 100 or more guests outdoors. The cooking area is compact, there’s no kitchen to hire, and guests get a hot meal at roughly the same time.
Next steps
See how much paella per person or get a quote.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll suggest a menu and send a quote.